Athletics-Kids come out to compete |02 April 2009

Sponsored by the JJ Spirit Foundation and Fresh Snacks, the competition was open to boys’ and girls’ under-10s and under-12s from primary schools on Mahe on an invitation basis.

Organised by the Home Boyz club in collaboration with the Seychelles Athletics Federation, the competition included high jump, long jump, shot putt, 60m dash, 60m obstacle race, 150m, 300m, 400m, 5x80m relay and a medley relay with the runners running 80m, 120m, 150m and 250m.

It was a good opportunity for physical education instructors to watch their students in action. It gave them the opportunity to judge for themselves what to improve on in training so their students will be ready for the heats, during which they will fight for a place in the 33rd Inter-School Athletics Championships finals.

The competitors earned points according to their performances on the track and on the field. The points were added up at the end of the championship to determine the category and overall winners.

La Rosière school accumulated 1,338 points to win the under-10s overall category after finishing first in both the girls’ (740 points) and boys’ (598 points) categories.

Second overall was Pointe Larue school with 1,241 points (683 points for girls and 558 points for boys), while Mont Fleuri school finished third with 1,125 points (671 points for girls and 454 points for boys).

The other five positions were occupied by Plaisance (1,030 points), Anse Etoile (950 points), Independent (681), Bel Eau (490) and International (463).

Mont Fleuri triumphed in the under-12s category with 2,267 points (1,123 points for girls and 1,144 points for boys).

Pointe Larue finished runner-up with 2,088 points (1,216 points for girls and 872 points for boys) and third place went to Plaisance with 2,036 points (1,023 points for girls and 1,013 points for boys).

Anse Royale (1,697 points), Independent (1,248), La Rosière (1,201), Anse Etoile (1,184), Bel Eau (946) and International (843) occupied fourth to ninth positions.

Paul Nioze, the man behind the competition, expressed his satisfaction at the way things went on during the almost three-hour meet.
“It was nice to see the kids in action. They were enthusiastic and wanted to compete,” he said.

The former Seychelles triple jump star, who retired in 2000 after a successful career – competing at the Indian Ocean Islands Games, All-Africa Games, Jeux de la Francophonie, African Senior Athletics Championships, Olympic Games, and Commonwealth Games – said he has always wanted to organise such a competition.

“It has always been my dream to get kids to come together to compete. If I had the necessary funding, I would make it a monthly competition because I could feel there was an energy flow among the competitors. But unfortunately this has not been the case this time.

“I also wanted to get all primary schools on Mahe, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette to take part. Hopefully, next year it will be the case,” added Nioze, who was the country’s Sportsman of the Year for 1996.

Nioze, who won a number of medals at international meets, would like to thank all sponsors, the SAF, officials, PE instructors, competitors and parents who watched their children in action.

G. G.